North London mums - where to live for highgate school

[toddlermom]

Hi all,

First time posting. DD just got accepted into Highgate School which is great, now we just need to buy a house to make the commute bearable! Apparently it's hellish from Hampstead. There's hardly anything for sale in Highgate (though we'd love to live there) and not sure if we like Hampstead Garden Suburb or Muswell Hill. Any ideas or recommendations please? Thanks in advance!

Depends on your budget and the kind of house you're looking for....?

Am more looking for info on the areas - not the houses specifically - as in if the commute from Hampstead is do-able and what the commute is like from other areas. We're going to narrow it down to the area first and then look at houses. Thanks!

Have you considered East Finchley or even further out on the Northern Line?

Highgate is very accessible by tube.

Maybe consider Crouch End- the Highgate side of Crouch End is particularly lovely. Muswell Hill is very nice, and some parts of East Finchley too (good bus and tube service to Highgate). Many people travel from Hampstead to Highgate (or the opposite direction) for schools- I wouldn't rule out Hampstead on distance if it's affordable for you.

Totteridge is not too far and easy on the tube.

Thank you for these! I'd be driving as school is nowhere near the tube (1.5miles) but I'll have a look at the driving routes.

Crouch end.
Although you say you would drive long term you may well want dc to be able to get to school on their own.. if worst came to the worst they could walk or cycle( up hill).

OP: You say "I'd be driving as school is nowhere near the tube (1.5miles)"

According to mu map Highgate School is 0.5 miles from Highgate tube. Not sure why you think driving there twice a day at rush hour - especially when you can actually choose where to live (i.e. a good/great transport connection) - is a good idea...

I wondered about the distance from the tube too- if you're at the building at the top of north hill/corner of southwood Lane then it's definitely not 1.2 miles- it's only 0.5 miles. But I know there's a site around Bishopswood road somewhere- that is much further away.

Archway? Driving will be a nightmare so do consider bus routes if tube is out - my friend drives from NW6 to Highgate school twice a day and says the worst of the traffic is always near the school

Crouch End or Muswell Hill or Highgate itself.

Between Crouch End and the Archway Road has lots of great Victorian terraces of differing sizes. You'd be able to walk. Also Whitehall Park is lovely and walking distance, but you could hop on a bus for part of the way. There are a few roads off Highgate Hill just up from Archway - Despard Road and so on - you could combine bus and walking.

Well done to your DD. Our son is now in Y3 & we are all very happy. We live in W Hampstead. Travel fine. We drive. Go early. You can breakfast at school with your child. Plenty of after school clubs which spread out pick up. Only slight pain is back across the Heath after morning drop off but there are back routes. Parents come from Muswell Hill. Archway. Hampstead. Finchley. All over. It is a popular school ;-)

What about Holly Lodge estate or Dartmouth Park? Should be easy to get a bus up the hill. I personally would do anything to avoid getting in a car at school run time anywhere in the area!

Hello @toddlermum. Our son just got shortlisted for Highgate interview for 3+. Any tips on the assessment? What was the experience like?

@newmummycwharf1 Hi! I know this thread is a year old now, but we're now in the same boat as you were! How did your DS (and you) find the assessment? As nerve wrecking as I'd imagine?